The jet-set routine you didn’t know you needed

Your packing list might be immaculate, but is your skincare routine flight-ready? Between dehydrating cabin air, erratic time zones, and the stress of making it past security with your dignity intact, travel takes a toll on your skin first. But what if your travel itinerary could double as your skincare checklist, a beauty routine that syncs perfectly with every leg of your journey?

From the moment you start packing to when you step off the plane, here’s how to keep your skin glowing at every leg of your trip.

Pre-Flight Prep — Hydration, Barrier Boosting & Lightweight Protection

This stage is all about fortifying your skin before the chaos of travel begins. Hours before takeoff, your skin needs a cocktail of hydration, barrier repair, polish, breathable coverage, your skin needs nourishment, not a full beat.

 

Start with something featherlight yet effective. A soothing gel like Raise The Universalist Rose Aloe Gel works overtime, mimicking the effects of multiple serums without the weight. Cooling, hydrating, and infused with Bulgarian rose water and niacinamide, it calms and plumps the skin while doubling as a moment of sensorial pause. Basically, it gets your face as ready to fly as your passport.

 

Now to give your eyes a quick refresh (especially after late-night packing or early morning flights), pop on the Pixi DetoxifEYE Depuffing Eye Patches. Infused with hyaluronic acid and designed with a cooling gel texture, they instantly revive tired under-eyes and smooth natural creases, your ideal companion while sipping your coffee before boarding.

Now that your skin is prepped and your eyes look well-rested, it’s time for lightweight coverage. Go for something sheer, breathable, and packed with SPF. The Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen walks the line between skincare and soft-focus makeup, delivering a smooth, radiant finish that looks like good skin on a good day. Just enough polish to skip foundation, and SPF 40 to do so guilt-free.

Post Check-In Rituals — Quick Touch-Ups & Sensory TLC

After you’ve made it past security and found your gate, your skin (and stress levels) are in limbo. This is your pause point, a chance to top up moisture, re-center, and indulge in small rituals.

 

Give your hands some love. After all, they’ve been doused in sanitiser and exposed to airport grime. A few dabs of Plum Body Lovin’ Hand Cream restores softness without the stickiness, and the soft vanilla scent offers a comforting hit of calm, no over-fragrance, just ease.

 

If your complexion is already feeling dry or tight, a few drops of d’you’s Hustle Serum will go a long way. This barrier-loving formula works across all skin types and sinks in beautifully over earlier layers—perfect for restoring balance without shine.

Top it off with a spritz of Caudalie Beauty Elixir, just enough to revive your glow and make the terminal lighting a little more forgiving.

In-Air Essentials — Overnight Treatments, Minimalism & Barrier Lock-In

In the sky, less is more. Your skin’s in survival mode, so give it formulas that work while you sleep, sip, or scroll endlessly.

Midway through your flight, a barrier-repair treatment can help lock in hydration and shield against dry cabin air. Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Overnight Treatment is perfect here, weightless but effective, it cushions your skin and helps it wake up looking rested, even if you didn’t manage a full nap.

Lips are the first to dry out mid-air, and constant reapplication is just annoying. Smooth on a layer of Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment before takeoff and reapply once if needed. It delivers visible plumpness and pillowy hydration, all with a soft, glossy finish. It’s nourishing without being sticky, and leaves your lips looking glazed, not parched, when you touch down.

When it comes to skincare on the move, it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing smarter. The right formulas don’t just keep your skin intact; they help you arrive looking rested, radiant, and in control. 

Lead image: Getty Images

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